Abstract

Phileas is a high quality public transport vehicle combining characteristics of bus, tram, and the underground. Phileas is equipped with pneumatic tyres and complies with the statutory regulations for buses. Accordingly Phileas may drive everywhere on public roads where buses are allowed to drive. On dedicated lanes Phileas can also drive as a track vehicle and drive and stop automatically. This combination is new and as the dedicated lanes have level crossings with ordinary traffic this might have unexpected consequences in practice that must be studied in advance. For this reason 25 professional bus drivers have completed a number of experimental rides in a Phileas driving simulator. During these rides sometimes dangerous, and sometimes less dangerous, events happened that required active take-over of control by the driver. It was found that after the first experience with such a situation drivers always reclaimed control in time. It is advised to train the drivers on these situations, e.g. in a simulator, to avoid fatal consequences in real life first time encounters.